NEW Coventry United Ladies boss Jay Bradford has her sights set on the Women’s Super League after being announced as the club’s new first team manager following the departure of Michael Foy.
Bradford first joined the club’s centre of excellence nine years ago and after having her playing career cut short because of a hip injury, she made the decision to step into coaching.
She went on to become Director of Young Player Development in 2014 before making her first step into management this week, where she will be joined by head coach Gemma Davies.
“I’m really excited to get started,” said Bradford, who holds a UEFA B licence coaching badge. “This club is in a really good position to move forward.
“Coventry Ladies’ record in the FA Women’s Premier League is second to none; we have a fantastic group of players and also some really promising youngsters coming through.
“I’m also really looking forward to working with Gemma. She is a great coach and we bounce ideas off each other so well, we bring very different personalities but we share the same passion.
“Our aim has to be WSL and we’ll be continuing to develop home grown talent along the way.”
Coventry United Ladies finished fourth in the Premier League Southern Division last season and finished ten points behind winners Brighton & Hove Albion.
Bradford and Davies will be assisted by Marcus Webber, who like Davies has coached with University of Birmingham Women’s team and the club’s director of football, Tom Stack, is confident of a bright future.
He added: “This has been our accession plan for the past two seasons and I’m so pleased it’s finally all come together.
“I’ve known both girls for a number of years and it’s been fantastic to see their development, both as people and as manager/coaches.
“It has been a part of our strategy to develop not only players but also female staff across all roles.
“Jay has shown such maturity in everything she takes on for one so young, and Gemma is widely admired and rightly earning her growing reputation in the game.
“We had a top four finish, scored over 150 goals, had the meanest defence in the FA Women’s Premier League and won a national trophy along the way. We now look to build on this.”
